Ethereum
The community-run technology powering the cryptocurrency ether (ETH) and thousands of decentralized applications.
Overview
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain with smart contract functionality. Ether (ETH) is the native cryptocurrency of the platform. It is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, after Bitcoin. Ethereum was conceived in 2013 by programmer Vitalik Buterin. In 2014, development work began and was crowdfunded, and the network went live on July 30, 2015. Ethereum allows users to create and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code.
✨ Key Features
- Smart Contracts
- Decentralized Applications (dApps)
- Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
- ERC-20 Token Standard
- Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
- Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
- Proof-of-Stake Consensus
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Largest and most established smart contract platform
- Most extensive developer ecosystem and community
- Highest number of dApps and DeFi protocols
- Strongest network security due to decentralization
Unique Value: Ethereum provides a highly secure, decentralized, and programmable blockchain that serves as the foundational layer for a vast and growing ecosystem of decentralized applications.
🎯 Use Cases (6)
✅ Best For
- DeFi protocols like Uniswap, Aave, and MakerDAO
- NFT marketplaces like OpenSea and Rarible
- Stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and DAI
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Applications requiring very high transaction throughput and low latency on Layer 1
- Use cases where transaction costs need to be consistently negligible
🏆 Alternatives
Compared to its alternatives, Ethereum offers the largest network effect, the most mature developer tooling, and the highest level of decentralization and security.
💻 Platforms
🔌 Integrations
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Users only pay transaction fees (gas) to use the network. There is no subscription fee.
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